Harlots (TV series)

Harlots is a British period drama television series created by Alison Newman and Moira Buffini . The series premiered March 27 2017 we are ITV Still in the UK and is 29 March 2017 is Hulu in the US The series is Focuses Margaret Wells, Who runs a brothel in 18th century England and Struggles to raise her daughters in a chaotic household. The series is inspired by “The Covent Garden Ladies” by Hallie Rubenhold .

Plot

London in 1763 is booming, and one in five women makes a living selling sex. Women’s opportunity for economic advancement is to marry well or be a prostitute. Margaret Wells and Lydia Quigley. The prostitutes have reviewed in Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies , which some of the women are seen reading in the first episode.

But there is no doubt that this is not the only way to get rid of raids. [1]

Episodes revolve round Mrs Wells’ determination to improve her life and fortune by moving her brother to Greek Street in Soho and serve a better class of Georgian society. To finance the move, after receiving a £ 100 fine, she auctions off the virginity of her younger daughter, Lucy, as she had done before with her older daughter, Charlotte, when she was twelve years old. Charlotte is the lover of the besotted Sir George Howard, who wants her to sign with him that makes him her “keeper.”

Margaret’s move to Greek Street puts her into conflict with Lydia Quigley, for whom she had previously worked as a prostitute. Lydia Quigley is an American journalist and historian of the Middle Ages.

Production

Harlots was commissioned for ITV by Controller of Drama Victoria Fea. Women served as writers, directors, and executive producers on the series. The producing company Monumental Pictures Was founded by two women, Alison Owen and Debra Hayward. [2]

Dirty doorways, cramped whorehouses, sumptuous four-poster beds, and tastefully-decorated Soho parlors Were created in one building: Langleybury Mansion, an empty country manor near Watford Containing a balance of run-down parts and decorated shares to create the whole spectrum of Georgian sex work. It Had Previously-been used as a location for the BBC series Great Expectations .

The exterior of the mansion used to create Was the streets of Georgian London, with Greek Street on one side and Covent Garden on the other. A green screen was strung up at the end of the street so the rest of the scene could be painted in. [3]

The Tarred Yarn Store located at The Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent, doubles as a Tavern in various episodes throughout the series. [4]

Cast and characters

Samantha Morton as Margaret Wells, Madam of a low-class brother seeking to improve her fortune. Form prostitute of Lydia Quigley.

Lesley Manville as Lydia Quigley, Madam of a high-class brother with clients from the judiciary, nobility, and upper echelons of Georgian society.

Dorothy Atkinson as Florence Scanwell, blind religious campaigner beholden to Lydia Quigley who provides her and her daughter with lodgings.

Jordon Stevens as Amelia Scanwell, daughter of Florence Scanwell, her innocence is of interest to Lydia Quigley.

Roy Beck as Mr Abbadon

Episodes

No. in
series

title

Directed by

Written by

Original air date

UK viewers
(millions)

1

“Episode 1”

Coky Giedroyc

Moira Buffini

27 March 2017

N / A

Brothel owner Margaret Wells plans to move in the world by taking her daughters and her brother to a house in Greek Street. Rival high class brothel owner Lydia Quigley enlists religious crusaders and constables to raid the brothel. After paying a £ 100 fine, Margaret can not make the final payment on her new house, so she plans to auction off the virginity of her youngest daughter, Lucy, to the highest bidder. Sir George Howard expects to sign a contract to become her keeper, but she refuses to sign; In a fit of jealousy, he successfully bids for Lucy’s virginity. Charlotte makes the acquaintance of an aspiring male gigolo. Emily Lacey Margaret deserts to work for Lydia.

2

“Episode 2”

Coky Giedroyc

Moira Buffini

3 April 2017

N / A

Margaret Discovers one of Lydia’s girls, Mary Cooper, on the streets dying of French pox and plan to use her as revenge contre Lydia. Justice Cunliffe asks Lydia to illegally provides an untouched girl for a secret group of high born men to the “Spartans” to rape. Margaret’s old lover, plantation owner Nathaniel Lennox, returns from America with his wife and children and agrees to invest in her new house. Sir George leaves his servant, Haxby, to watch over his property, including Charlotte. Lucy’s virginity is sold thrice.

3

“Episode 3”

Coky Giedroyc

Cat Jones

10 April 2017

N / A

Margaret’s move to the Greek Street House is initially thwarted by thugs hired by Lydia. Nathaniel Lennox is an American singer and songwriter. Lucy is one of the most important and most influential people in the world. Sir George Howard’s wife to Charlotte. Lydia has left a foul surprise in the new house for Margaret to find. Emily Lacey, having earned Lydia’s displeasure for her attitude and being Charles’, Lydia’s son’s, favorite, is starved and sentenced to service Lydia’s most feared client, Mr Osborne. Justice Cunliffe is looking for a new, untouched girl for a royal client,

4

“Episode 4”

China Moo-Young

Debbie O’Malley

17 April 2017

N / A

Margaret’s trade suffers from Florence Scanwell’s endless religious tirades, ordered by Lydia. Charlotte suggests a masquerade party to save her mother’s business and goes to the Cocoa Tree seeking potential guests, especially Lord Fallon. Lucy is a thief in her new role and can not attract a keeper; She turns to her sister, Charlotte, for help, but continue to seem out of place. Emily tries to run away and rejoin Margaret’s brother, but she is the prisoner of Lydia’s son, Charles. A rift between Charlotte and Sir George widens due to jealous spite and he beds Lucy. The ‘hellish’ bacchanal brings together many unexpected guests and girls. Harriet Lennox, now maid in Margaret’s House, uses her charms on Lord Repton to promote herself to harlot. Charles stands up to his mother and bans Osborne. Amelia Scanwell, befriended by Violet, joins the party for a glimpse of Margaret’s brothel. Lydia finds and illegally impart another virgin for the Spartans in exchange for a name.

5

“Episode 5”

China Moo-Young

Jane English

24 April 2017

N / A

The wildly successful party leaves the coffers flush, and Margaret visits Lydia to offer a resentful truce and pay the debts of Marie-Louise, who has deserted Lydia for Margaret’s brothel. Beaten and bloodied by Lydia, Emily manages to escape the brothel by drugging Charles with laudanum , but can now go to go. Charlotte is desperate to attract a new keeper, while Sir George’s outrageous behavior escalates to violence and social scandal when Charlotte tries to leave him. Harriet Lennox excels in her new position, but her form stepson puts an impossible price on her children that he has inherited. Lydia is in a panic when the only trace of the latest virgin is the blood on the door after the Spartans had visited. Lord Fallon wishes to be Lucy’s keeper, to the delight of Margaret, But his strange aggression alarms Lucy even as her mother encourages her to accept. Violet and Amelia continues to meet. Emily is taken in by Nancy. Lydia refuses to get more girls when she realizes Justice Cunliffe is just a lackey.

6

“Episode 6”

China Moo-Young

Moira Buffini

1 May 2017

N / A

Margaret is faced with an ever mounting tide of problems, and she is left with her finger in the dam to try and stop the flow. Benjamin Lennox demands immediate repayment on the loan his father gave the brothel and plans to leave for Virginia, taking Harriet’s children with him. Charlotte has left Sir George, penniless, and wishes for the freedom of America. Lucy refuses to take Lord Fallon as her keeper, without whom they will not have the money to pay Lennox. Lydia is spying the house night and day for signs of Emily Lacy. Fanny is pregnant and too far gone to have an abortion. To spite Charlotte, Sir George appears and demands to be a reluctant Lucy’s keeper, paying Margaret handsomely for the privilege and seemingly solving all of their problems. Lucy lashes out and Margaret takes responsibility to keep her daughter safe, putting all of the house occupants in danger. Lydia recaptures Emily after Margaret betrays her whereabouts to gain time to save Lucy. Florence confesses her past as a prostitute to Amelia in an effort to break free from Lydia, to no avail. Lydia is back on board with providing girls for the Spartans, who have grown blood thirsty.

7

“Episode 7”

Jill Robertson

Cat Jones

8 May 2017

N/A

Decisions and consequences. Saving one daughter may have condemned the other: Sir George is found murdered and Charlotte and Daniel Marney are arrested in place of the true culprits. Margaret’s world starts to crumble as William and Jacob have disappeared, the harlots in her house rebel, and Margaret comes closer than ever to becoming what she despises most. Lydia has captured Emily Lacy with foul intentions in mind. Charles grows disillusioned with his mother and chooses to grow more independent and act behind his mother’s back. Charlotte must decide whether to throw Daniel Marney to the wolves in order to walk free, or trust that he won’t betray her in turn for his own freedom. Florence seeks an alliance with Margaret to save Amelia from Lydia’s threats. Justice Cunliffe seeks reassurance and a seat at the table from The Spartans behind Lydia’s back. Harriet Lennox blackmails Margaret for the money to recover her children before they are taken to America by Benjamin. Lydia discovers where Sir George was murdered. Fanny is about to give birth.

8

“Episode 8”

Jill Robertson

Moira Buffini and Jane English

15 May 2017

N/A

Betrayals and new alliances. Lydia’s motivations for saving Charlotte are revealed: she wants Charlotte to abandon Margaret and join her house. Lady Howard, now free as a widow, sides with Charlotte over Haxby and arranges Daniel’s freedom. Justice Cunliffe betrays Lydia for acceptance by The Spartans. They’ll take him, on condition he produces another girl. William and Harriet team up to recover her children, though their methods left Margaret feeling ill used. Emily Lacy returns to pair with Charles against his mother and find new independence together. Margaret must decide if she’ll do the right thing, or take the final step to becoming like Lydia and deliver Amelia to the Spartans to save herself. Lydia pulls off a double cross with an unexpected outcome for Justice Cunliffe. Charlotte has decided to disown Margaret and Daniel and remain with Lydia for her own reasons. Fanny gives birth to a daughter. Lucy remains at her mother’s brothel newly wiser.